Change Limit

March 29, 1986

I GOT A speeding ticket on Interstate 75 down Sarasota way. The fine was $73.50. The trooper, a woman, said, ''You were going 69 mph in a 55-mph zone.'' I said, ''Doesn't everyone? I don't mean to be flippant, ma'am, but doesn't everyone go this speed?'' After this pointless and futile rebuttal, I was ordered into my car to await my summons.

My point is that there is no reason why we can't go a decent speed down a decent highway -- 55 or no 55-mph speed limit. Who goes 55? The $73.50 fine makes me feel like the time I got caught in Georgia and was fined by a judge in the back of a grocery store -- except that Florida Highway Patrol has bypassed the judge and the grocery store.

If the state of Florida wants to get picky, shouldn't we start thinking about changing our state speed limit to one we can all live with without this kind of harassment?